Toddler is constipated or has diarrhea. What could be Wrong?

Question

Most of the time my 22 month old is constipated to the point where I have to use suppositories. However, when she is not pooping rocks she has bouts of bad diarrhea that lasts for a while. The past week it seems that no matter what I give her to eat she poops it out in whole form. This weekend when she pooped it was a creamy white color(?). This morning when she woke up and I went to get her it smelled like something died in her room and her bottom was bright red from the p**p she just had.

I called the doctor last week and he said to give it a week and if she is still pooping out food then to call back. He aslo said constipation is normal at her age.

I am a nuse and have never seen anything like this or heard of any child going through this.

What could it be?

Answer 1

It's possible she could be lactose intolerant. Try subbing in soy milk for cows milk for a couple weeks and see if that helps.

Answer 2

my son had something similar to this. he bad constipation to the point where he wouldnt go for a while. one time he didnt go for like a week and a half. so i took he to a specialist and he found nothing wrong so i started giving him miralax to help him go and its worked ever since. i dont know if it will help in your case beacause it helps the stool get softer so he can go but you said that he had bad diarrhea. but its worth a try. sorry if i couldnt help hope all is well.

Answer 3

Well I am not sure exactly what you would call it or if this might help, but ever since my son  has been a baby I have had to give him Miralax to help soften his stools and make him regular.  He would have such big hard stools that he would scream when he was going.  The miralax has done wonders, who knows, maybe this could be an option for you!  Hope this helps and your toddler gets better!

Answer 4

No, don't give him Miralax!  It's been linked to epileptic fits, skeletal damage and much more (see Yahoo Group for details).

If you need a chemical crutch for the constipation, the suppositories are safer.

Answer 5

It is almost always reflective of the foods she eats.  Is she eating a balance of high fiber foods, with fresh vegetables or fruits, etc?   I have read that a lot of times diarrheas follows consitipation because it has been 'stopped up" for awhile.  

Also, regular use of suppositories can cause a vicious cycle and disrupt the bodies' natural elimination.   I would stop using those and try more natural elements like prune juice, raisins, bran cereals, high fiber carbs, etc.

Answer 6

Google "encopresis" and see if those symptoms sound familiar.   You don't mention if your daughter has any other symptoms (eczema, chronic ear infections or runny nose, etc.) but my son is allergic to milk and had a lot of diarrhea before we found out, I read that constipation can be a symptom of food allergies too.    Also - you may want to try probiotics.  If you suspect a milk allergy or intolerance don't give her yogurt but instead a powdered form, you can get it at a health food store, Three-Lac is a popular brand, but I know that can cure a lot of stomach and immune problems.   Good Luck!

Answer 7

One of my boys had an ongoing problem with constipation that is now thankfully under control.  He would wake up with horrible stomach aches and would have diarrhea.  The doc had an x-ray done to see how much stool was in the bowels (it was alot) and then prescribed Milk of Magnesia followed by an over the counter laxative the following day and then a daily dose of Miralax.  He also needed a high fiber diet, plenty of fluids and to try to go to the bathroom after every meal...to retrain his body.  It took him a long time (somewhere around a year and half) until he no longer needed the medicine at all and he has done good for quite some time now.  I would take her to the doctor and ask him to run some tests to see what is going on.  If it is strictly chronic constipation, the earlier it's caught, the better.  Good luck.